4

Marco and I walked into the room simultaneously, finding my belongings already there. I remained stationary, grappling with the uncertainty of our situation and Marco's intentions, now that we were alone. Glancing at him, I noticed him loosening his tie, with the top buttons of his shirt undone, providing a modest view of his chest. Taking a deep breath, memories of witnessing his bare torso flooded my mind. Shaking my head, I reminded myself that now was not the time for such thoughts. But what did Marco do? He left the following morning, just like that!

Marco approached the bed, taking a seat at its edge. With his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, the veins on his forearms became visible as he moved.

"What are you doing, Maddie? Come here. We have unfinished business to attend to," he calls me over.

Nervously, I began to walk toward him, my heart pounding in my chest. Marco was undeniably intimidating, his constant expression always cold and dark. Well, strictly speaking, that's two expressions.

Once I stood in front of him, he gently pulled me closer, inviting me to sit on his lap.

I don't consider myself a coward, despite having experienced significant childhood trauma that can sometimes trigger me. However, there are two individuals in my life who have the power to make me feel weak and powerless: my father and my husband. When they are present, I find myself more inclined to comply with their wishes rather than question them, simply because I know that ultimately, I will be the one to suffer the consequences.

As Marco's hand began to move up and down my side, gradually nearing my underboob, I couldn't help but feel a strong sense of embarrassment for not putting a stop to it.

"I have three specific rules for our house," he whispered into my ear, his warm breath tingling my cheek, as his hand continued its descent, eventually reaching my neck. Due to our close proximity, I caught a whiff of his cologne.

I anxiously twiddled my fingers, feeling as helpless as a child waiting for instructions, afraid to make a mistake.

“First, you obey.” Marco spoke firmly. “Second, you follow without question. And third, you never…ever defy me.”

Curiosity consumed me as I pondered the nature of his punishments. Would they resemble the disciplinary actions my father used to enforce? Perhaps there wasn't much distinction between the two.

"Is that clear?" His voice maintained a calm demeanor, but an unmistakable hint of danger and threat lingered within its tone.

My head nodded reflexively, devoid of any choice. To express disagreement would surely be perceived as my initial transgression.

His hand tenderly traced my side once more, now venturing higher, eliciting a reflexive closure of my eyes and a gentle moan escaping my lips. A sharp bite on my lip ensued as I recognized the unintended response.

Aware that my current expression might not be appropriate, I looked at Marco, though its control lay beyond my grasp. The touch he bestowed upon me sent delightful shudders down my spine.

"Maddie, do you have any questions?"

Even the utterance of my name from his lips sent a surge of electricity through my being. As desire pulsed within, I clasped my thigh tightly.

Summoning my courage, I met Marco's unwavering gaze, cold and dark, as though impervious to change.

Marco was not just handsome; he transcended the mere definition of the word. Words seemed insufficient to capture his allure. He emanated sexiness, radiated hotness, and exuded masculinity. Though I had been pursued by men in the past, none could compare to Marco's visage.

As the words escaped my lips, I immediately regretted asking the question that had slipped out: "Are you leaving again?" I noticed his raised eyebrow, sensing his seeming displeasure at my inquiry.

"What do you mean?" Marco's hand continued to rest on my waist. My heart pounded so fiercely that I wondered if he could hear it.

"I mean, like before, are you going to leave without saying anything? I just want to know so I won't be surprised." I asked because it made me sad. Waking up one morning to find the man I was with the night before had disappeared was disheartening. So many thoughts would race through my mind, wondering if I was the reason for his departure or if he would ever return. I just wished Marco would at least say goodbye if he planned to leave again for an extended period.

Marco stared at me for a while before finally speaking, "The next time I leave, you're coming with me. And if not, I promise to let you know in advance."

My face lit up with joy, and my heart filled with happiness upon hearing Marco's words. Although a simple statement, it meant the world to me.

I hadn't realized I was smiling at Marco until I caught myself. Hastily, I suppressed the smile, clamping down on my lip to stifle any more grinning.

Marco's gaze wandered from my eyes and settled on my lips, which I had been gently nibbling on. My breath grew heavier as his focus intensified. Unconsciously, I halted my nibbling, leaving my lips slightly parted.

Unable to resist, my eyes also gravitated towards his lips. I noticed a small cut from when I had accidentally bitten him earlier. My fingers itched to touch it, to trace along its edge, but I hesitated, mindful of not overstepping boundaries with Marco.

As I watched, Marco's face drew closer to mine, his fixation on my lips unbroken. My heart raced in response to his proximity, causing me to unintentionally bite my lip again.

A low, nearly imperceptible groan escaped him. What came next took me by surprise.

He grasped my nape and pulled me closer to him. Marco kissed me passionately, his kisses aggressive and filled with hunger, unlike the ones he had given me at my father's house.

I moaned and clung to his shirt as he kissed me this way. It felt like I was being consumed by him.

His tongue grazed my lips, tasting every inch of them. When I parted my lips, he entered with his tongue.

I surrendered to the sensations coursing through me. I knew there was no use resisting because I had been feeling something strange between my legs for a while now.

"Hmm..."

I decided not to bite Marco's lip again, fearing that it would end this moment, just like what happened earlier.

His hands found their way from my shoulders down to my breast. He kissed me even deeper as he slipped his hand beneath my clothes.

The way he fondled my breast sent shivers down my spine. I broke our kiss and arched my back. It just gave him access to my neck, which he kissed and sucked on. The sound of him sucking on my neck filled the room.

My breathing quickened, and my nails dug into him. Even though not much had happened yet, I already felt like I was losing my mind.

I was too sensitive.

"Marco…"

When I called his name, it was as if I had given him a signal—a permission. Marco lifted me and laid me on the bed, never breaking our kiss. I moaned in the midst of our passionate exchange.

He lifted my left leg and raised it slightly in the air. We were in the midst of an intense and fiery moment when suddenly, his cellphone rang.

Marco paused his kissing but not our proximity. He closed his eyes briefly, then eventually pulled away and reached for his cellphone.

I felt a mix of disappointment and embarrassment as I reflected on my earlier actions. I couldn't believe I had mustered the courage to say his name, and now I was left questioning myself. 

"What's wrong?" Marco answered a call without acknowledging the caller.

Letting out a heavy sigh, Marco composed himself, leaving me feeling even more disheartened.

"I'll be there soon." He ended the call and turned his attention towards me. I sat on the bed, watching him silently.

I had recognized that Marco needed to depart; his words during the phone conversation were a clear indication.

"I need to leave. I'll be back later."

I simply nodded, unable to conjure any additional words. I couldn't impede him; there might have been a matter at his workplace that demanded his presence.

"Take care," I said.

Marco was on the brink of departing when I observed something.

"Marco!" I called out to him. He turned towards me, prompting me to approach. As I attempted to make contact, I noticed him evading my touch. "Y-You have a lipstick mark on your lips."

I gestured towards my own lips to indicate the location of the lipstick mark, most likely from me.

Marco remained motionless, making no attempt to remove the stain himself. "Do it," he instructed. "You were going to remove the stain, right? Then do it."

His words startled me, as I had assumed he didn't want me to touch him earlier. Tentatively, I nodded and cautiously brushed my finger against his lips to wipe away the lipstick. The intensity of his gaze made me uneasy throughout the process.

"Finished," I announced, stepping back. He continued to stare at me, his gaze unwavering.

He closed his eyes tightly, taking a deep breath.

"I'll see you tonight," he said, turning away. I noticed a sigh escape him as he left.